Key clip



Feb. 11, 1941.. Q WALSH ETAL 2,231,308

KEY CLIP Filed Sept. 21, 1939 ATTORNEY.

I v I O Patented Feb. 11, 1941 PATENT @FFME KEY CLIP Clara Bell Walsh, New York, and Eleanor B.

- Roosevelt, Oyster Bay, N. Y.

Application September 21, 1939, Serial No. 295,83!)

1 Claim.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for readily attaching akey to a garment, parts of a purse, side of a pocket or the like, which is permanently attached to the key.

The invention is a key having a spring clip permanently mounted on the end thereof by which the key may be secured on the edge of a garment or the like and which permits ready removal of the key when use thereof is desired.

10 Many devices have been provided for holding and attaching keys, andthese have been combined with various articles, however, in order to insure the safety of a key and also that one has the key when desired, it is thought advis- 15 able to combine the key with a common device that is generally worn, and by which the key may readily be secured to the edge of a garment, pocket, or hand-bag, so that it is not deposited in a crowded hand-bag, or so that a key-case or 20 container is not required.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a key holding devicewhich is permanently attached to and made a part of the key.

Another object is to provide means for readily 25 holding a, key to a garment, edge of a pocket, part of a hand-bag, or the like, in which the holding means is an integral part of the key.

A further object is to provide a key with a spring clip by which it may readily be secured 50 to a garment or the like.

And a still further object is to provide a key having a spring clip forming an integral part thereof which is of a simple and economical construction.

35 With these ends in View the invention embodies a key having a clip hinged to the end thereof, with a spring holding the clip both open and closed, and prongs on the clip securing the device to a garment or the like.

40 Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a view showing a front elevation of a clip.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a relatively plain clip forming the front of the device.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the clip in the open position.

Figure 4c is a view showing a side elevation with 50 the clip closed.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a cross section through the end of the key and clip showing a spring of an alternate design.

Figure 6 is a detail showing an elevation of the 5 spring mounting with the clip shown in section.

Figure 'l is a detail showing a section through the upper end of the key head illustrating the construction of the snap hinge thereof.

In the drawing the device is shown as it may be made, wherein numeral I indicates a key which forms the base of the clip, numeral 2, the front or cover, and numeral 3, the spring.

It will be understood that the key may be of any type or design, and these may be supplied in blanks and readily cut, or formed from a 10 pattern, or key supplied by the purchaser, and the clip or front 2 may also be of any type or design, and this may be hinged or attached to the key in any manner. It will also be understood that clips of this type use various types of springs, and it will be understood that any suitable spring or snap device may be used.

In the design shown the keyhead is formed with a projection 4 and the front 2 is provided with a notch to receive the projection, and is hinged thereto by a pin 5, and the inner surface of the front or part 2 is provided with prongs, and it will be understood that the prongs may or may not be used, and these may also be of any shape or design.

In the design shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the spring 3 is secured to the inner surface of the clip 2, with one end extending through an opening 6 in the key, and the opening is formed with a slight projection I that snaps into a recess 8 in the end of the spring, causing the clip to snap downward in the position shown in Figure 4, and also holding the clip outward when the clip is opened.

In the design shown in Figures 5 and 6, the spring, which is indicated by the numeral 9, is attached to the inner surface of the key, which is indicated by the numeral IE1, and the hub II of the clip i2 is provided with a projection l3 that bears against the curled end of the spring, causing the clip to snap closed and also open.

It will be understood that a spring of any type or design may be used, and any means may be provided for causing the clip to snap in the holding position and also to the open position.

It will be understood that other changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of a clip of any type or design, and also of any design on the face of a clip, another may be in the use of other means for hingedly attaching the clip to a key, and still another may be in the use of a key of any type or design.

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In use the clip is provided as shown and described, and, although the face is formed of a frame and provided with a leaf in the design shown in Figure 1, it will be understood that any ornament, jewel, or other object may be provided on the face of the clip, and the face of the clip may be formed in any manner. With the clip formed in this manner, it provides means for readily holding a key upon a dress, or in a hand-bag, on the edge of a pocket, garment, or the like, without dropping the key in a hand-bag where it is usually difficult to find, and the clip also provides additional means for holding the key, facilitating turning the lock or look bolt thereby. Thisdevice is, therefore, primarily a key with a holding clip attached thereto so that a key without additional clips or fastening devices may readily be secured upon a garment or the like, and, although it is shown and described as being ornamental, it may also be plain, as shown in Figure 2, so that it may be used for holding a key on a swimming suit, athletic garment, or the like.

Having thus fully described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A key holder of the type permanently attached to the key, comprising a key shank and a key head at one end of the said shank with a projection at the end thereof, a spring actuated member forming a front with a notch in one end adapted to receive the projection at the end of the key head, a pin extending through the said projection and par-ts of the front at the sides of the notch pivotally attaching the front to the key head, a spring member on the under surface of the said front with one end extending through an opening in the key head adjacent the base of the said projection and adapted to engage a cam surface portion formed in the key head at the upper side of the said opening for resiliently holding the said front in both the open and closed positions, and also for snapping the said front from one position to another, and material holding prongs also on the under surface of the said front.

CLARA BELL WALSH. ELEANOR B, ROOSEVELT. 

